California Condor

The California Condor, “Gymnogyps californianus,” faced certain oblivion by the 1970’s. In 1979, the last remaining wild condors were brought into captivity. After extraordinary efforts, the condors are slowly recovering. In 2016, I walked along the treacherous edge of Pacific Highway 1 through northern Big Sur to meet one of these ancient creatures. In a life-changing moment, a California Condor flew beside the edge of the highway at exactly eye level. Amidst the pulse of its thunderous wingbeats, I was overwhelmed by the depths of its red eyes, eyes that held nothing less than the sheer defiance of a bird that will not be defeated.

© Christina Baal 2018